4o6 



THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



should be exactly the same as the Black in all 

 but colour of the plumage, which is desired 

 as glossy a white as possible ; of course, more 

 glossy in the cock than the hen. 

 White The White Minorca is really a 



Minoroas. good-looking fowl, the brilliant red 

 face giving more contrast than 

 the white face of the Spanish, which looks 

 ghastly and unpleasant upon a white bird. 



It is rather curious that the earlier White 

 Minorcas known were described as more 

 delicate than the black parent variety ; that 

 character was given them by Mr. Leworthy, 

 whose experience went back to 1834. On the 

 other , hand, some who breed the fowl now 

 have reported upon them as perceptibly hardier 

 in cold situations, while fully equal, if not 

 superior, as layers, to neighbours of the Black 

 persuasion. The reason may probably be 

 delicacy in the Blacks from causes already 

 adverted to.; while the Whites, having less 

 contrast of colour in the lobes, have been less 

 rigorously selected for these, and having also 

 usually rather smaller combs, have in consti- 

 tution proved superior. Nothing need be 

 added respecting the breeding of the white 

 plumage to what has been said under other 

 breeds. 



Black Minorcas are bred in America with 

 smaller combs and ear-lobes than in England, 

 with somewhat less massive bodies ; and in a 

 much more severe clmiate than that of England, 

 greater hardihood and more prolificacy (on the 

 average) have resulted from such differences. 



The following is the Poultry Club's Stand- 

 ard of Perfection : 



GENER.A.L CHARACTERISTICS 



Head. — Skull : Long and broad, so as to provide 

 a substantial foundation for the comb. Beak ; 

 Strong and of moderate length. Eyes : Full and 

 bright. Comb : Single, fairly large (consistent with 

 the size of the bird), upright and straight, free from 

 any twist, thumb marks, or side sprigs, not extend- 

 ing over the beak, and reaching well to the back 

 of the head and following the line of but not touch- 

 ing the neck-hackle, of moderately rough texture, 

 and with five to seven wedge-shaped spikes. Face : 

 Smooth, of fine texture, and as free as possible from 



feathers or hairs. Ear-lobes : Almond shape, fairly 

 large Tto harmonise with other points of the head), 

 of kid-like texture, flat but of thick substance, and 

 fitting closely to the head. Wattles : Broad and long, 

 and well rounded at the ends. 



Neck. — Long and covered with flowing hackle. 



Body. — Long, broad shoulders, giving the back 

 a somewhat flat appearance, gradually tapering and 

 sloping to the tail. Breast : Full. Wings : Moder- 

 ately long, fitting closely to the sides. 



Tail. — Full, abundantly furnished with feather, 

 with broad, long, and well - curved sickles, and 

 carried nicely back. 



Legs and Feet. — Legs : Strong and moderately 

 long. Toes : Four on each foot, long, and well 

 spread. 



Carriage. — Upright and graceful. 



Weight.— 7 lb. 



HEN 



E.xcept that the Comb droops over to one side 

 of the face and is carried so as not to obstruct the 

 sight, the general characteristics of the hen. are 

 similar to those of the cock, allowing for the natural 

 sexual differences. 



Weight.— 6 lb. 



COLOUR. 



THE BL.\CK 



Beak : Dark horn. Eyes : Dark. Comb, Face, 

 and Wattles : Dark "blood red. Ear-lobes : White. 

 Legs and Feet : Black in cockerels and pullets, 

 dark slate in cocks and hens. 



Plumage. — Glossy green-black. 



THE WHITE 



Beak : White. JSycs : Red. Comb, Face, and 

 Wattles : Blood red. Ear-lobes : White. Legs and 

 Feet : Pink-white. 



Plumage. — White. 



SCALE OF POINTS 

 Head : face, 15 ; comb, 15 ; lobes, 10 . . .. 40 



Colour : plumage, 10 ; legs, eyes, antl beak, S . . 18 

 Size . . 

 Condition 

 Shape . . 



Breast-bone . . 



Serious dejects : White in face ; wry or squirrel 

 tail ; feathers on shanks or toes ; other than single 

 comb ; plumage other than black or white in the 

 several varieties ; other than four toes ; legs other 

 than black or slate in Blacks or white in Whites. 



